Rectilinear warp knitting machine



April 28, 1953 M. VI TEK I RECTILINEAR WARP KNITTING MAC JHINE 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney Q w V L e m m Filed June 24, 1948 A ril 28, 1953M. V| TEK 2,636,365

RECTILINEAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 24. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inave ni'or Marcel Vp'i'ek.

Attorney VITEK pril 2 1953 Marcel i k. 75

x \I II II E ormey April 28, 1953 M. VlTEK 2,636,365

RECTILINEAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 24. 1948 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Iraver-Liar Attorney Marcel Vpfiek. I

A ril 28, 1953 M. VITEK 2,636,365

RECTILINEAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 24. 1948 Sheets-Sheet 5Marcel Vp'iek AHaor Rey Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE RECTILINEAR WARP KNITTING MACHINE Marcel Vitek, Geneva,Switzerland Application June 24, 1948, Serial No. 34,965 In SwitzerlandJuly 10, 1947 3 Claims. 1

The rectilinear warp knitting machines known to date include thefollowing main elements: one needle bar, one sinker'bar, one press bar,one thread guide bar.

The machines which do not include a press are fitted with acomplementary needle bar.

. The mesh formation is obtained by drawing each of these bars inindividuaLperiodical to and fro movements synchronised one with theother.

i From this fact arise four basic movements generally controlled by camscarried by a camshaft. However, it is not an unusual thing to comeacross machines including two or several camshafts. In order to transmitto the respective bars the movements of the pushers acting inconjunction with the cams, the known machines require, in addition, aset of carrier-levers, an individual shaft for each movement and, inmany cases, from 1 to 8 complementary pivoting points for thetransmission and auxiliary parts.

When one considers the best possible design for a machine based on theprinciple of the known machines, one obtains at least five shafts, viz.:one camshaft, one shaft controlling the needles, one shaft controllingthe sinkers, one shaft controlling the press, one shaft controlling thethread guides. The plurality of these shafts, which are by necessitycomparatively distant one from the other, leads unavoidably to acomplicated and expensive mechanical realisation, while favouringvibrations which are harmful to the correct working of the machine. Thepresent invention relates to a rectilinear warp knitting machineincluding a needle bar, a sinker bar, a thread guide bar and a pressdriven in synchronised periodical movements one with the other byrevolving controlling parts.

This machine aims at eliminating the above mentioned drawbacks by thefact that it includes only two main shafts and at most one auxiliaryshaft, the first main shaft being revolving and carrying all saidrevolving controlling parts, and the second main shaft being fixed andcarrying sets of oscillating arms at the end of which are fixed at leastthe sinker bar and the press, and by the fact that the needle bar isfixed on a setof carriers mounted on the two main-shafts and driven by aset of revolving controlling parts, while the thread guide bars aredriven in their floating motion by a set of levers, oscillating on thefixed shaft and carrying driving parts acting in conjunction with a setof revolving controlling parts. v I. 1.

. The attached drawing shows diagrammatically and by way of example twoforms of embodiment of the knitting machine.

The Fig. 1 is a part profile view of a first em bodiment of the knittingmachine.

The Fig. 2 is a part cross-section view along the line IIII of the Fig.1.

The Fig. 3 is a profile view, the frame being removed for the drawingsclearness sake.

The Fig. 4 is a view of the needle bar controlling device.

Fig. 5 is a part view in plane.

The Figs. 6 and 7 are part profile views showing press and the sinkerbar with their controlling devices.

The Fig. 8 is a part profile view of a second embodiment.

The Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views.

The Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the synchronised displacementsperformed by the various parts of the knitting machine.

In accordance with the embodiment shown on the Figs. 1 to 7, theknitting machine has a frame 2 including machined supporting surfaces Iintended for fastening bearing supports 3. Each of said supports has abearing head 5 for a revolving shaft R and a housing for a fixed shaft Fclamped in position by means of a collar 4. These shafts R and F aretherefore carried by both their ends and constitute the main shafts ofthe knitting machine. According to the knitting machine length,intermediate supports 3 can be provided for.

The fixed shaft, F carries:

(1) two sets of oscillating arms 6 and '1 (Figs. 6 and 7) at the ends ofwhich are respectively fastened the press 8 and the sinker holders 9 bymeans of the bars l0 and II;

(2) a set of levers [8 (Fig. 3) carrying each a controlling part l9acting in conjunction with a revolving cam means 20 rigidly fixed on therevolving shaft R.

Each of the arms 6, 1, carries a controlling part I2, l3, acting each inconjunction with a revolving controlling cam means [4, l5, rigidly fixedon the revolving shaft R. Each controlling part I l, I5, 20, isconstituted by a disc having a groove 16, ll, 2|, made in one of itslateral faces.

- The levers or arms l8 are mechanically linked to an auxiliary shaft A,carrying the'thread guide leads 22, 23. These latter are each rigidlyfixed on a bar 24, 25 constituted by a slider, both sliding in a slide26, 21 which are both rigidly fastened to the end of arms 28, 29 carriedby the auxiliary shaft A. The arms 28 are rigidly fastened on the shaftA by means of stopping parts 30 and have each a groove 3t (Fig. 5) madein one of the front faces of their hub 32. The arms 28 each have a hub35 drilled with an oval hole 33 intended for the passage of the shaft A,and having, on one of its front faces a rib 34 engaged in: the groove 3|oh the adjoining; hub 32. A ring 55, fixedon theshaft'A by means of ablocking part, fixes the axial position of the arm 23 and keeps the rib34 engaged in the groove: 3|. guide bars is imparted to the latter byone or several levers 31 rigidly fixed on" the shaft A; and connected byrods 38 to theuarms H3. The

The oscillating movement"v of: the. thready attachment point of each rod38 oneachl'ever 31 is adjustable by means of an articulation axle 39engaged in a port 49, of the lever 3i and of which the position in saidport can be chosen and fixe'd by means: of. standard typera clampingparts not represented:-

The hub has a boss 41h carrying at shank; 42 engaged in afork- 4%provided at. the: end

of a lever 44 rigidlyfixedon" an-aaxlezfizhousedi inthe frame: Thelatter" a'l'so' carries a hand controlling part of standardtypemotrepresentedi The needle-bar 45" is rigidlyfixedi on: carriers 59,carrying cache (I) a controlling: part 5?; acting. in; conjunction witha revolving controlling camameansi lit rigidly fixed on the revolvingshaft B. This controlling: cam. means; is constituted by. a disc having:on: one: of its: front surfaces;a gltoove; 53; in which is engaged thepart 52; V

i (2): a. guiding part; constituted; by a tube 68 sliding inside asleeve 49 carried by; the; shaft, R by means; orfa fian d fifi andfixed. rigidly to thafixed." shaftiltby meansof; a carrien 50. The tubeGal isguidedtwithimthe;Sleeve by means of two rings 5 l,

The working;v of; the. above: described knittin machine: withreferenceto, Figs. 1 to Z of the drawing: is, similar to? that of: known knittingmachines.

When, the, revolving, shaft. R is driven in I tationk. the controllin gparts which. it carries impart; to. the, main parts; of, the knittingmafcl'iine, the. synchronised; displacements, illustrated m nitude ofthed'isplacements of the; knittin machines main parts effecting periodicalto and fro'movements; are plotted vertically and as a function of therotation aIIgIBIOf the? revolving, shaft plotted horizontally:

The graph it represents the motion of the needle-bar,- the graph 17; thefloating motion of the'thread g-uide bars; thegraph': c that' of thesinker bar and the graph (1 that of the press: Itiis' obvious that theform of each groove must be computed very accurately: in order: toobtain the displacements represented on: the: Eigz; 1L, and moreover,the discs must.be-.angu1arly:fasztened: on. the shafirRi iIL relativepositions such that; for: any; angular. positicm of the; revolvingshafts R; each part: isactually: in: the position indicated by? thegraplr. on the; 11-. It. is obvious that rthezthreadiguide bars are:controlled in: a.- way. paralleLtcl thesauxiliary shaft: by means of apusher, in the same manner asrin knitting:machinesiof iknowrrtypess.Thepushers act. at; the: end? of: the; bars: 242 and. 25:. Theselongitudinal displacements: of: the thread; uide bars camtakezplaceinstanceabetsween 1103 and t'llrhewhile. the v thread; guides; are;behind 4 the needles and between 300 and 20, when the thread guides arein front of the needles.

The arms 28 can be lifted by hand operation of the axle by means of itscontrolling part, so as to lift the bar 24 carrying the thread guides 22and thus give access to the ends of the thread guides 23 and allow topass threads in each of their holes, when breaking of the. threads ofthis bar 'hasitaliemplace.

If one wants to lift entirelythe thread guide bar 22, it is sufficientto unblock the ring in order to clear the rib 3 from the groove 3|andatozliftthearms; 28 in causing same to revolve around the auxiliaryshaft A.

Study of the attached drawing will show that the. design ofthe.described knitting machine is much simpler than that of the knownknitting machines. Indeed, all the controlling parts of theknittingmachine parts performing periodical to and fro movements are mounted onthe same: revolving; shaft; This shaft R; is: very rigidly: mounted-1on; the. frame; by; means: off the support; 3 which: carries: also thefixed: shaft; Er. The distance between theseztwo. mainshafts: is;comparatively small; so; that: it is. easy to secure all. the: wantedrigidity; As to the auxiliary; shaft; it revolves. bearings, 14:rigidly; to theframe; ThisashaftzA carries theztlwolthrfiflflsguidezbars; by means: of; the 285311111? 29,.011: which are rigidlyfixed the slides 25 and: 21; such; arrangement leading.- to; design.simplification and to; render: the WhOlBi muclrmorevrigid: than; is;the; cases in: known designs whil'e requir i1lg only. a much: smallerforce: to; proyokeethe' longitudinal displacements oft the! thread;guides 22: and 23:.

Indeed; in the known knitting machines; each; thread guide; bar is:fixed. to; a suspension anpae ratusz permitting; on: once hand; the:oscillating; moyementiofz thezthread guides andions-the other: hand;their: long-itudinah displacements; It: folilows: that:v these bars arecarried; only bstai few points; remote; one: from: the o.ther;.- this;number: of: carrying pointsxandtheindistanceibeing'vartable in;accordance with; the-number or? suspension arms: proyidedi inn. Incadditions these thread guide bars: have-znecessari'ly atramsxersai;cross section of general rectangnlarrshape'sconnparatively" Eight and;narrow; In; View: of: the high working: speeds-.wantediommodernxknitting machines; this; of suspensiom ion the; threadgLlldBibBIS'SiSTIIQIOIIQEIfSUfiTOiEIIlZ. Indeedathese bars vibrate: and:thereby undergo. permanent longitudinal deformations im their? partssitu atedibetween theisuspensinmarmsz, In; addition, lih'fi latter."lack: rigidity and: on: the; othen hand; thein guiding poinaomtlie:auxiliary: shaftzisitoo remote. from; the? ends: of: the thread guidesloadeztwith. the; threads to permit; achieyingi'the necessary accuracy;im the longitudinal: positions of i the; thread; guides; and,vvmoreover, jammings takeplace: which are;sthe: cause1 of ailongitudinaldisplacement; of. the thread; guides: occurring: in a; jerkymanner'andtherefore harmful: to the sroperworkingoi;theknittingzmachine;

wnthercontraryztin the;described knitting may chine the slides: 2.6, 211are: rigidly; fixedi on the arms 218,-, 29 atthe height andapproximately in the; threads guide; leads: horizontal transversalun'der'go longitudinal perm'anent' deformations,

inasmuch that they "canbe supported "by guides 56 of whichthe number canbe chosen as great as necessary in order to avoid anyharmful'longitudinal vibration. Finally, .only the thread guidebars 24,25 are longitudinally driven by pushers (not shown), for the formationof the various patterns .wanted.

' From .this aggregate of advantageous conditions; there result on onehand. a very great simplification in the design of the knitting machine,and the certainty f avoidinglongitudinal vibrations as wellas. anytrepidatiomso that this design enables one to increase the working speedof the knitting machine with respect to the maximum working speedofknitting machines of known design, while ensuring enough accuracy inthe motions to avoid untimely breaking of the warp threads.

Another advantage, of the described knitting machine arises from thefactthat itsmain organs constitute together, with their controllingparts, the main shafts and the auxiliary shaft, a remov-v shafts, ofwhich one F is fixed and the other R revolving. These shafts are kept inrelative defined positions by a carrier rigidly fastened on the frame 2.

On the other hand, this knitting machine includes no auxiliary shaft,but only articulation axles 60 enabling to lift one of the thread guidebars in order to give access to the rear thread guides.

The revolving shaft R carries all the controlling parts of the mainorgans of the machine performing periodical to and fro movementssynchronised one with the other. Each controlling part is constituted bya disc having a groove made in one of its front faces.

The fixed shaft F carries:

(1) three sets of oscillating arms 6, 1, 8|, at the ends of which arefixed in a rigid manner, respectively the press 8, the sinker holders 9and the thread guide leads 23, by means of the respective bars 10, IIand 25;

(2) a set of levers 62 carrying each a controlling part 52 acting withthe grooves 53 of the discs 41 operating the displacements of the needlebar 46.

The bar 24 carrying the thread guides 22 is fixed by means of the slide26 on a set of articulated arms 63 articulated on the set of arms 6| bymeans of articulation axles 60 carried by the arms Bl. This set of arms63 is kept intermediate its two. extreme positions (working positionrepresented by the drawing, and lifted position) by means of a tippingdevice. The latter includes a compression spring 64, one of the ends ofwhich rests on a part 65 of a tip-over casing. This latter isarticulated by means of an axle 61 on an extension l of the oscillatingarm 61, carrying a slide 21 in which is mounted the thread guide bar 25.The other end of this spring 64 acts on a sliding part 68 guided by thewalls 69 of the tip-over casing. This sliding part 68 carries a contactroller revolvingffreely on -:an

axle" and rolling along-the curved'runway I2.

provided on the arm 63. This curved runway is so arranged that thedistance a is greater-than '.In order a lift the thread guides 22, it issuflicient therefore to exertan upwardpush on the bar 25,-so as todisplaceit-angularly, against the. action of the spring 64. When, owingto this. angular displacement, the distance a. has become smaller thanthe distance I), the springrelaxes.

and the contact roller 10 rolls along the-:curved runway 12, provokingthe complete oscillation of the set. of arms 53, that is to say up toits second extreme position defined by stops (not shown); The needlebar. is carried by carriers mechanicallylinked by small rods 8| to thelevers 62. .The carriers 80 are constituted by arms re-.

volving freely on the revolving shaft. ,Thus, thesearmsare guidedyby therevolving shaft and are driven in a to and fro movement by .,.thecontrolling part 52 acting in conjunction, with the controlling part ofthe needle bar.

The mounting of the thread guide bars 24 and 25 is similar to thatdescribed with reference to theFigB. a I

In 'thisembodiment, the knitting machine includes no auxiliary shaft, sothat a very sturdy and simple design including only two main shafts isobtained.

These main shafts constitute, with the main organs of the knittingmachine and their controlling parts, a removable aggregate fixed 0n theframe by means of supports 3. This aggregate fully mounted and setbefore-hand can thus be shipped independently from the frame, so that itis no longer necessary to call specialists for the mounting on the spotand the starting of the knitting machine.

From above explanation and by referring to the attached drawing, onesees that the described knitting machine has, among others, thefollowing advantages: great simplification from the mechanical point ofview of the aggregate formed by the controlling and driving partsrequired for the formation of the meshes, thus permitting to design thisaggregate as a single block to be fastened on the knitting machine'sframe by means of double bearing carriers.

This feature oifers a considerable advantage when dismounting andremounting the knitting machine, owing to the fact that all the partsconstituting the block remain in their working position, so that anyadjustment work when the remounting takes place is unnecessary. Itfollows that this mounting does not call for a fitter from themanufacturer.

Due to the fact that each bar is set in motio by so many cams as it hasfastening parts, the pressure exerted on the cams is reduced inproportion, while this pressure is distributed in an even way on thewhole length of the knitting machine, thus permitting a more regular andlighter running of the knitting machine while reducing the vibrationsand the wear and tear of the mechanical parts.

The embodiment shown on the Fig. 8 clearly demonstrates how, by thepresent invention, the various movements of the bars can be provoked inthe most direct way, and therefore the simplest,

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